Has anyone got any experience with low bounce wedges, I am looking at trying a Norman Drew MD Wedge. 

My PW is 45 and SW 55 so a 50 should fit in nicely, but I'm still umming and arring about the real low bounce the wedge has and if it could lead to more fat shots (I think the bounce is about 2).

Richard,

I've got the 52 degree and I've had no problem with fat shots, it's a super club.

Its interesting  - I recently bought a copy of Stan Utley's book on the short game, and he advocates using a wedge with quite a bit of bounce.  I've experimented with his technique and am having (within the limits of my 16 handicap) some reasonable success. I don't think you could use this technique with a low bounce wedge. 

Anyone any opinions on the relative merits of low vs high bounce wedges?

Well my local American Golf (Cringe) didn't have any in stock (basically had a crap selection!) so I couldn't get one, will have to order it from the internet which is a shame as I wanted this for the weekend .

Hmmm thanks for everyones input, I may have to see if I can have a try of a few before deciding, for now i'll have to learn to ease up on the PW for those inbetween shots.

Paul, does Stan Utley explain why he likes more bounce then? Just wondered if he is expecting everyone to develop a steep angle of attack swing like the Pros which more bounce would suit, or if his method will work with any kind of swing.

You could try using Scratch Golf's online wedge fitting (click Get Fit).  You might not want the expense of a Scratch wedge, but will give you an idea on your swing type and recommended bounce/grinds.  Some are even supposedly suited to Stan Utley's short-game teachings.

Quite a few manufacturers now have wedges with sole grinds that vary bounce depending on the face angle, so you don't have to be limited to one amount of bounce.  For example, Solus Golf have wedges with only 4* bounce when square, but up to 18* when open. Also has a -4* heel relief, so you can still do flop shots when open.  Wishon Golf do the opposite on their CX Micro wedges, 6-12* bounce when square, down to 0* bounce when open. While Eidolon Golf have a V-Sole wedge that is low bounce, but has aggressive bounce on the leading edge to stop digging.

Maybe you could find a clubmaker to grind something similar to the V-Sole design on the MD wedge, to stop it digging?

Mike

Obviously can't summarise the whole book here (its worth buying, not too expensive from Amazon), but he basically says to set up square to the ball and control distance with a lower body pivot, and control trajectory by where you set the hands relative to the ball. For chip shots, its hands in front and you contact ball, then turf. For shots where you need more loft, its hands level with or even behind the ball, and he says to let the bounce of the club contact the turf before the club hits the ball.

Now I know this sounds like a recipe for ridiculous thins (!) and skulled shots, but it seems to work. I haven't skulled a wedge or failed to get out of a bunker now for about half a dozen rounds.

The best thing though is he says he wants to help people use their "natural athletisicm" in the short game rather than get constrained by technique.  Since starting trying to use his techniques, I'm actually finding i enjoy these short game shots now and relish the challenge of getting it close - so that's a positive for me. 

I now play 90% of chips and pitches with my sand wedge, has 10 degrees of bounce.  I have a gap wedge with much less bounce, and I find it much more difficult to hit these shots with the GW now - which i assume is down to the bounce.